Press Release
Seminar
“The Kashmir Dispute: An Unfulfilled Promise”
February 04, 2020
“Pakistan will continue the legal, moral and diplomatic battle for the Kashmiri people.” This was stated by the President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi at a Seminar titled “The Kashmir Dispute: An Unfulfilled Promise” which was organized by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in collaboration with the Ministry of KA&GB on February 04, 2020 at Aiwan-e-Sadr to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
The President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi was the Chief Guest at the occasion. Other speakers at the occasion included: Syed Fakhar Imam, Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir; Mr. Ali Amin Gandapur, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan; Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Convener, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC); and Mr. Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman, Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR).
President Alvi assured that the people of Pakistan are standing with the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for self-determination. He stressed that today, international politics has very little to do with morality as trade now plays a bigger role than ethics. As the battle of Kashmir is on moral grounds, Pakistan will continue to fight this moral battle and make the world aware of its moral responsibility towards the people of Kashmir.
While addressing the gathering, Syed Faiz Naqshbandi stated the people of Kashmir demand that the international community should put pressure on India to implement the UNSC resolutions of carrying out a free and fair plebiscite and instantly stop the human rights violations that are being carried out in IoK. He said that the people of Kashmir pray for the peace and prosperity of Pakistan.
Mr. Altaf Hussain Wani appreciated Pakistan’s commitment to the cause of Kashmir. He said that since 1947, the struggle of Kashmiri people underwent various phases and the people of Indian occupied Kashmir were subjected to torture and oppression at the hands of the occupying forces. Despite all this, the people of IoK never lost hope. He was hopeful that ultimately Kashmir will be resolved through peaceful means according to the UNSC resolutions.
Mr. Ali Amin Gandapur in his remarks noted that India is carrying out genocide in Kashmir by exposing the 800,000 Kashmiris to severe form of torture, rape and brutality. But all this has not weakened the determination of Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) to gain freedom. He stated that the people of IoK are still waiting for the Partition of 1947 to complete. They are waiting for the implementation of UNSC resolutions to take place i.e. a free and fair plebiscite. He was of the view that the international community should do more against India and reminded the audience that Pakistan’s support for the Kashmir cause will not waiver. Mr. Gandapur was of the opinion that the recent developments in India have shown that now India is only for Hindus and there is no place for minorities.
Syed Fakhar Imam gave the historic overview of the Kashmir dispute and how it has evolved over the years leading to recent Indian actions of revoking the special constitutional status of Indian Occupied Kashmir. He said that the Kashmir dispute was a colonial legacy. Syed Imam was of the view that the recent Indian move in Kashmir is part of its larger domestic agenda of Hindu nationalism guided by Hindutva. He also warned that if India tried another “Pulwama attack”, there will be a much bigger answer from Pakistan in response.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks the Director General ISSI, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry stressed that the events of August 5, 2019 are not only against the UN resolutions but also the Simla agreement. The human rights situation in Indian occupied Kashmir is dismal as the entire leadership of Kashmir is under detention and pellet guns are being used against the Kashmiri youth.
